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The human touch makes a noticeable difference. Listeners invariably respond to that tactile bond between the musician and the music.

To put it simply in the parlance of our times, you know when itās realā¦

GRAMMYĀ® Award-nominated Norwegian singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Jarle Bernhoft emphasizes this personal connection on his fourth full-length offering and first as Bernoft & The Fashion Bruisesāthe aptly titled Humanoid. Recorded as a full band, the record unlocks a soulful spirit buoyed by simmering R&B grooves and powerful pop hooks. In assembling this bold, bright, and brilliant body of work, the artist surveyed the landscape and made a conscious decision to go against the grain.

āSo much current music is computerized and machinelike,ā he affirms. āI felt like I should go the other way and create human music again. Itās imperative to keep in touch with organic life, so I dove into those soundscapes. I rediscovered that touch. By ample use of guitars, drums, and bass, Iām trying to smash people out of Facebook and back into real life.ā

If anybody can do it, itās him. Since making his solo debut on 2008ās Ceramik City Chronicles, heās quietly amassed a catalog celebrated by fans and critics alike, spanning full-length offerings Solidarity Breaks [2011] and Islander [2014] as well as EPs Stop/Shutup/Shout It Out [2016] and The Morning Comes [2017]. Highlighted by āCome Aroundā and āNo Us, No Themā [feat. Jill Scott], Islander received a 2015 GRAMMYĀ® nomination in the category of āBest R&B Album.ā Along the way, he performed on Ellen and Conan in addition to earning acclaim from NPR, USA Today, and many more.

Joined by The Fashion Bruises, the process for Humanoid commenced in old school fashion. Rather than rush into the studio, they spent time woodshedding in the rehearsal room. The shared chemistry flourished.

āWe did this all as a band,ā he continues. āWe didnāt use computers. We really played through everything. The Fashion Bruises are such an integral part of the sound. The days of playing solo arenāt over, but Iām definitely taking a break. The goal was to keep this like a live performance.ā

They recorded at Oslo Klang in Norway for only two weeks with Bernhoft behind the board in the producerās chair as his infant son crawled around the space.

āThereās nothing better than having a baby crawl around your feet when youāre playing guitar,ā he smiles.

The group introduced the album with the first single āBuried Goldā [feat. Raelee Nikole]. Over a funky beat driven by lively guitars, he locks into a hypnotic duet with Raelee. Their voices entwine in an undeniable back-and-forth, speaking to a central theme.

āThe song represents what the album is about,ā says Bernhoft. āItās a dialogue between an optimist and a pessimist who are both engaged in fisticuffs daily within me. Iām shifting between disillusionment and re-illusionment, which is the state of things. I remember when the Brexit vote had just come in. Not too long after was the American presidency vote. Itās was if the world was unraveling. I felt torn between wanting to pick up the gloves and fight or just saying, āFuck the world.ā Both of my viewpoints come across. Raelee really shines on it too.ā

Elsewhere, handclaps, acoustic energy, and warm reverb bottle a sun-soaked sensibility on the West Coast-inspired āCalifornia,ā while āDonāt Give Upā offers up a powerful send-off highlighting the expanse of his voice.

In many respects, the title track remains the perfect representation of Humanoid. A hummable guitar riff gives way to a lively chorus thatās downright impossible to shake.

Songs have always been there for Moorea Masa (pronounced More-ray-uh Mah-sa), being raised in the musical mecca of Portland, Oregon. The daughter of an Italian immigrant father and an African-American mother born abroad, this singer/songwriter/guitarist has been making music for as long as shecan remember. At fifteen, she was already looking for chances to perform by sneaking into local clubs,where she was lovingly adopted into the vibrant community of Portland musicians. Moorea then left to study at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in England, and spent time living in a cave and soaking in flamenco music in Granada, Spain. Returning home to the Pacific NW, Moorea began her music career in earnest. Not just writing and performing her own original material, she recorded with El Vy and The Decemberists, sang with soul legend Ural Thomas (who appears on her new album), and toured with Allen Stone. As a solo artist, she's garnered major praise from Emily King, Corinne Bailey Rae, Nick Waterhouse, and many more. Now 25 years old, Moorea has been touring with crooner KD Lang, and just release her debut LP "Shine A Light".